Residence Hall to Be Named

By Douglas Whiting
Director of Public Affairs

Thanks to the generosity of two of Boston College's long-time benefactors, the new residence hall at 70 St. Thomas More Drive soon will bear the name Joseph and Mae Vanderslice Hall.

The naming of the Lower Campus residence hall is the result of a gift to the University by Thomas A. and Margaret A. Vanderslice, and will honor Dr. Vanderslice's parents, according to Boston College President J. Donald Monan, SJ.

Dedication ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 17 at 3:30 p.m. at the front of the residence hall and a private dinner will follow.

Fr. Monan said, "Few of our graduates have the unique combination of talents that have been the wellsprings of his contributions to Boston College: scholar in physics and chemistry, research scientist, experienced executive in some of the nation's largest and most innovative companies, BC parent, philanthropist. Whether the need was for advice or financial assistance, Tom never had to be asked; his dedication to Boston College has been spontaneous, constant and without thought of recognition. The names of his mother and father, parents of three graduates and grandparents to nine more, are welcome inscriptions on a Boston College residence."

According to Mary Lou DeLong, vice president for University Relations, "We are again thankful to Tom and Peggy Vanderslice for their continuing generosity and are especially pleased that they have chosen to name this building. This type of philanthropy, I believe, has a special impact not only on the present day Boston College, but on the history of the University as well."

About the gift, Dr. Vanderslice said, "The entire Vanderslice family is delighted to be able to have a lasting memorial to our parents on the campus of Boston College."

Thomas A. Vanderslice, '53, has a long history of service to Boston College, including many philanthropic endeavors. He was active on a number of subcommittees of the Board of Trustees during a lengthy tenure of 17 years as a board member, and as chairman of the board from 1987-1990.

The Vanderslices have left their mark on the University's academic environment as well, through the establishment of the Margaret A. and Thomas A. Vanderslice Chair in Chemistry, the University's first endowed chair in the physical sciences, currently occupied by T. Ross Kelly. Dr. Vanderslice also served as chairman of the fundraising campaign for the Merkert Chemistry Center.

Dr. Vanderslice is chief executive officer of TAV Associates. He is the former CEO of M/A-COM and Apollo Computers, and the former president of GTE. He is a former vice president and sector executive at General Electric. After graduating from Boston College with a degree in chemistry, he earned his doctorate in physics at Catholic University as a Fulbright Scholar in 1956.

Margaret Vanderslice graduated from St. Margaret's School of Nursing in 1952 and has been active in Boston College affairs. The Vanderslices' four sons are all Boston College graduates - Thomas Jr., '79, Paul, '80, John, '83, and Peter, '86 - as are two of Dr. Vanderslice's brothers, Joseph, '49, and James, '62.

The soon-to-be-named Joseph and Mae Vanderslice Hall was opened in 1993, along with another residence hall at 90 More Drive and the Lower Campus dining facility. The popular, state-of-the-art facility houses some 380 students - mostly sophomores - and 10 staff in suites of four, five, six, seven and eight people, and includes places for meetings, conferences, Masses and other gatherings. It also features exercise facilities, and lounges for studying, listening to music and browsing newspapers and periodicals.